UPDATE 1-Thousands of UK troops to leave Afghanistan in 2013

October 14, 2012|Reuters

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Britain plans to withdrawthousands of troops from Afghanistan next year, DefenceSecretary Philip Hammond said on Sunday, as pressure mounts toend British involvement in the costly and unpopular war.

Some 500 troops are due to be repatriated by the end of thisyear, leaving around 9,000. Hammond said he expected thousandsof those remaining to go home in 2013, but not the majority,indicating a maximum withdrawal of around 4,500 personnel.

All British combat personnel are due to be withdrawn by theend of 2014.

"I would expect it will be significant, which meansthousands, not hundreds, but I would not expect it to be themajority," Hammond told the BBC, after being asked about troopwithdrawals next year.

At least 424 British troops have been killed in Afghanistansince the 2001 U.S.-led military invasion, yet stability hasremained elusive and violence high.